At least one person has been killed and 19 injured after a car has ran into protesters at the Charlottesville protests between Unite the Right and counter demonstrators. RT journalist on the scene said that there were “extremely heavy injuries” sustained during the incident.

The victim was identified by police as a 32-year-old woman. Charlottesville Police Department chief Al Thomas told a press conference that the woman was crossing the street as the “three-vehicle crash” occurred.

The detained driver of the car has been identified as James Alex Fields Jr., 20, according to Superintendent Martin Kumer, of the Albermarle-Charlottesville County Regional Jail, who briefed the media.

Fields Jr. faces charges of second-degree murder, three counts of malicious wounding and a failure to stop his vehicle.

University of Virginia Medical Center earlier told the New York Times it has treated 19 people for injuries and that one person is dead.

The Charlottesville mayor, Mike Signer tweeted that a life had been lost and adding that he is "furious and heartsick by the car crash that has injured many."

“I saw two cars that were totaled, the trunk was just completely smashed. A woman was inside crying, there was blood on the hood of her vehicle, there was blood all over the place… I saw about sixteen people injured, some of them flying through the air over the hood of the car,” Rubinstein said.

Footage taken by Brennan Gilmore, former chief of staff to gubernatorial candidate Tom Perriello, shows the vehicle speeding towards the demonstrators as people can be heard screaming.

Moments later, the same car is seen reversing rapidly away from the scene of the crash.

Speaking live from his Bedminster golf resort, President Donald Trump said: "We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides."

"What is vital now is a swift restoration of law and order and the protection of innocent lives." he added. Trump’s press conference was called for his signing of the Veteran's Affairs Choice and Quality Employment Act of 2017.